06/05/2026
Salt Water Day in Keyport in 1900. Old Bridge Salt Water Day will be August 9, 2026 from 4-10 PM
This fascinating image was taken in early August of around 1900 at the corner of Broad and Front Streets in downtown Keyport. "Salt Water Day" was, according to a 1903 Keyport Weekly newspaper article, "An ancient custom among the farmers of Monmouth, Middlesex, and adjacent counties," where farmers and their families would converge on the beaches along the Raritan Bay after harvest time to enjoy the sun, water, and sand. Apparently, the custom dated back to the 18th century! Over the decades, Salt Water Day became more elaborate. The photograph captures some of the day's entertainments. A flower-bedecked carriage (we can barely see the occupants) parades down the street, close to the trolley. Members of the Citizens Cornet Band, in their smart summer uniforms, prepare to step out onto the street, adding music to the festive occasion. And Adam Salz's department store can be seen in the background, draped with bunting. The photograph is unusually crisp - note the well-dressed lady in the white gown and huge picture hat at the lower left corner. Near her stands a hawker, selling fans and flags to Salt Water Day visitors.
